MSU's sesquicentennial, a 16-month-long celebration of the university's 150th anniversary, has left its mark on this year's homecoming festivities.
The sesquicentennial committee has revived another campus tradition for homecoming week — a bonfire for students and community members — and the Oct. 6-9 sesquicentennial weekend celebration has stimulated interest from the community in this week's events, organizers said.
"People are already kind of in the mood for it," said Cheryl Brodowski, chairperson of the University Activities Board.
Friday's bonfire, which will be held at the Agricultural Exposition Site on south campus, will feature appearances by Sparty, MSU cheerleaders, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and possibly head football coach John L. Smith, said Brad Love, Council of Graduate Students president.
In the past, the event had been held at Munn field and drew crowds of more than 1,000, he said. Holding this year's event on south campus makes the logistics more manageable and provides a setting away from campus lights, Love said.
In addition to the bonfire, familiar events such as on-campus hayrides and the Green and White Brunch will be taking place throughout the week.
"We've kind of built it to a point where we are repeating events so people know what to expect," said Sharon Radtke, assistant director of special programs for the MSU Alumni Association. "Some people are upset because there is no parade this year."
Radtke organized last week's sesquicentennial parade, which took the place of the homecoming parade.
Several of the week's events, such as Saturday's sold-out brunch, are geared more toward families and people coming in from out of town, Radtke said.
The University Activities Board has planned student-oriented events and has at least one scheduled for every day through Saturday.
"We kind of go above and beyond any average Friday and Saturday night," Brodowski said. "It's just trying to reach out to all these other students, maybe freshmen and sophomores who haven't got involved."
Brodowski said she anticipates a good turnout at this week's events. University Activites Board, or UAB, is expecting about 150 people for Wednesday's craft night, during which students will have an opportunity to decorate T-shirts.
Members of UAB and the Residence Halls Association will judge an annual residence hall decorating contest tonight, which Holden Hall has dominated in recent years.
"They wait for this all year, it seems, and just go all out," Brodowski said.
A number of students said they didn't have any interest in attending the events taking place this week.
"There is definitely a group of people who would appreciate those activities," international relations senior Rob Johnston said. "I just don't count myself in that number."
